Factsheet: Initiatives for Improving Quality of Education — The Central Government has launched the following mechanisms for improving the quality of education: Amendment to RTI Act – The RTI act has been amended to make it mandatory for all untrained in-service teachers working in Government, Government Aided and Private un-aided schools to acquire minimum qualification as laid down by an academic authority.

Panel Suggests not to Allow new Engineering Colleges from 2020 — The Panel headed by IIT-Hyderabad chairman B V R Mohan Reddy has suggested All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) not to allow setting up of new Engineering colleges from 2020.

Telangana to Have separate High Court from 1st January — Separate High Courts will start functioning for the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh from 1st January 2019. The High Court for Telangana is the 25th High Court in the country.

India’s Core Sector Growth drops to a 16-month low in November — The data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industries has shown that the growth in the eight core sectors of the economy fell to a 16-month low of 3.5 percent in November. The eight core sectors are coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizer, steel, cement and electricity.

RBI Releases Fiscal Stability Report — The bi-annual Fiscal Stability Report discussing issues relating to the development and regulation of the financial sector has been released by the RBI. The Fiscal Stability Report reflects the collective assessment of the Sub-Committee of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) on risks to the financial stability to the country, as also the resilience of the financial system.

Bangladesh Elections: PM’s Awami League Registers Landslide Victory — The ruling coalition led by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Awami League has registered a landslide victory in Parliamentary Elections. The ruling coalition led by Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League Party won 288 out of 300 seats which are about 96% of the seats.

Loan Subsidy for the Middle-Income group under PMAY Extended till March 2020 — The Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri has said that the loan subsidy for the middle-income group under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, (PMAY) has been extended till 31st March 2020.

Transgenders can File Sexual Harassment case under IPC — Delhi High Court has allowed that Section 354A of Indian Penal Code (IPC) can be used by transgenders to register complaints of sexual harassment. According to the Police, there was a lack of an appropriate penal section under which they could register such a complaint.

PM Modi Inaugurated 6th International Rice Research Institute in Varanasi — Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Varanasi and Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh. He dedicated the 6th International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) to the nation.